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We are the world’s largest university press. We have both a worldwide reach and a personal understanding of local needs, partnering on the ground to adapt publications and resources to meet the individual needs of communities, societies, and countries. We partner with researchers, educators, and technology partners to stay ahead of the changing ways people around the world are accessing and sharing knowledge. With a presence in more than 50 countries and millions of customers around the world, an idea launched at OUP can have global impact.
About the Role
As our Senior Finance Business Partner for our Academic Division, you will be responsible for the financial and commercial support for the Divisional Sales and Marketing, and Music businesses, as well as supporting Finance Director on other cross-Divisional programmes. The role is a member of the Academic Finance Senior Leadership Team, and will act as a business partner to the Sales Director, Marketing Director and Music Group leads of the business units, with a collective responsibility for the delivery of the turnover, surplus and strategic objectives of the business.
Duties will include:
Delivery of financial results
Turnover and SfT budgets are on track or ahead of target. Product mix, customer mix, pricing and their impacts on trading margins are also on target.
Definition and delivery of strategy
Evidence of insightful and objective partnership with the UK Executive to define strategic priorities and delivery measurables for the business, and ensuring execution against them.
Planning, budgeting and forecasting
Delivery of a quality and timely strategy, five year plan and budget for Academic areas.
Commercial Support
Delivery of the objectives and ‘Must Wins’ of the Business units. Evidence of commercial insight in investment proposals at both local and Divisional levels of approval.
Commercial Support – Projects
Evidence of appropriate financial governance, investment appraisal and benefit tracking for projects with a scope beyond Academic alone.
Commercial Finance Leadership
Evidence of high standards of delivery, and of open, honest, and trusting relationship building as part of the Commercial Finance Leadership team
We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office, due to the nature of the role we'd encourage the successful applicant to be in more often.
About You
A confident and intelligent communicator, persuasive and with an ability to influence and communicate complex financial matters in a way that is understood at all levels
Has the ability to work in a matrix, managing a complex workload with multiple deadlines and stakeholders
A positive team player
Professionally discrete and trustworthy
Financially numerate with strong Excel skills
Familiarity with ERP systems
CIMA / ACCA / ACA qualification
Significant post qualification experience in a commercial or business partnering role
SAP/BW knowledge is desirable
Please note that this is a fixed term contract. When applying as an internal candidate on a secondment basis, you must discuss the opportunity and gain approval with your line manager/department in advance of submitting an application.
Benefits
We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies.
We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.
Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.
We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.